Former National Party leader Sir John Key has urged people to “take the temperature down a wee bit” in the debate surrounding race issues. He believes this is an area where any government needs to “tread carefully.”
He also mentioned recent issues such as ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill, the removal of Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act, and National’s move to overturn a court decision on the Marine and Coastal Area Act.
It seems clear that Sir John Key prefers to avoid difficult conversations. When he was Prime Minister, he favoured deals that solved immediate problems but allowed division and resentment to foster in the long term.
The reality is, if we had always trod carefully and feared stepping on toes, we wouldn’t have achieved nearly as much progress in halting separatism as we have.
Avoiding tough discussions has led successive governments to allow officials in Wellington (as well as special interests) to take New Zealand down a dangerous path of co-governance and a two-tier democracy. There’s still a long way to go to ensure equal rights for all, and we certainly won't get there if our political leaders are too timid to talk about it!
Restoring public access to the foreshore and seabed in the Marine and Coastal Area Act, removing Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act, and addressing ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill are ongoing issues that can’t be ignored simply because Sir John Key suggests we "cool down."
He stated:
The reality is, if we had always trod carefully and feared stepping on toes, we wouldn’t have achieved nearly as much progress in halting separatism as we have.
Avoiding tough discussions has led successive governments to allow officials in Wellington (as well as special interests) to take New Zealand down a dangerous path of co-governance and a two-tier democracy. There’s still a long way to go to ensure equal rights for all, and we certainly won't get there if our political leaders are too timid to talk about it!
Restoring public access to the foreshore and seabed in the Marine and Coastal Area Act, removing Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act, and addressing ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill are ongoing issues that can’t be ignored simply because Sir John Key suggests we "cool down."
He stated:
“The important thing is that we’re all New Zealanders and I think everybody wants to live in a place where we can respect one another, get along well, and foster a better New Zealand. So I’d kind of encourage everyone to maybe take the temperature down a wee bit.”
This is exactly the point.
These conversations must persist because we share a vision of New Zealand where everyone is equal and where no one is given special rights based on their ancestry or skin colour.
“You should always treat race issues carefully because, in the end, we all want to live in a harmonious society. Māori are the indigenous population of New Zealand and Treaty partners, so you have to treat them with respect and care,” Sir John added.
While we respect Sir John Key’s contribution, we must respectfully disagree.
Capitulating to special interests is not a sign of respect or caring.
If we respect the value of all New Zealanders, we must discuss any moves to weaken our democracy.
What is there to disagree with in the Treaty Principles Bill?
These conversations must persist because we share a vision of New Zealand where everyone is equal and where no one is given special rights based on their ancestry or skin colour.
“You should always treat race issues carefully because, in the end, we all want to live in a harmonious society. Māori are the indigenous population of New Zealand and Treaty partners, so you have to treat them with respect and care,” Sir John added.
While we respect Sir John Key’s contribution, we must respectfully disagree.
Capitulating to special interests is not a sign of respect or caring.
If we respect the value of all New Zealanders, we must discuss any moves to weaken our democracy.
What is there to disagree with in the Treaty Principles Bill?
* The Bill aims to finally define the principles of the Treaty as frequently mentioned in law and clarify what the three articles of the Treaty actually mean in 2024 and for the future (and reject what the activist academics have reinterpreted it to say).
* It will not alter the Treaty itself.
* New Zealanders as a whole have never been democratically consulted on these "Treaty principles."
* The Bill seeks to clarify that the Treaty was meant to ensure equality for all, not to justify offering different access to taxpayer-funded services, guaranteed positions on government boards, or a separate healthcare authority based on ancestry.
* It promotes equality before the law.
The issue isn’t the content of the Bill but the fact that it’s even considered controversial.
This should be a concern for the National Party.
Don Brash writing on behalf of Hobson’s Pledge
Dr Don Brash, Former Governor of the Reserve Bank and Leader of the New Zealand National Party from 2003 to 2006 and ACT in 2011. Don blogs at Bassett, Brash and Hide - where this article was sourced
6 comments:
Key is totally disingenuous.
Changing from democracy to ethnocracy ( government by a privileged and empowered minority) requires a national referendum - i.e. a full consultation with all citizens.
To stop this process means one is really in favour of the ethnocracy outcome.
Key, Finlayson, the Left ... and Luxon should state this fact.
Citizens can see this - why can't they?
I disagree that Key is being disingenuous, as I find it difficult to believe that he supports a move to ethnocracy. However, I do think he's been captured by what he and Finlayson thought was right when they were dealing with Sharples and Turia. Unfortunately, that time has passed. Our race relations have become far more tense due to Ardern's administration and the introduction of a far more radical Te Pati Māori.
It is hard to disagree with Key about lowering the temperature, though. But that has to happen on both sides of the debate, and I just can't see Te Pati Māori or the Willie Jacksons of the world being capable of doing this.
So, let's get the settings right. This means an open debate of everyone's views and then putting any decisions to the wider public.
John key was the one to sign nz to undrip when Helen Clark wouldn't as she knew it would mean trouble. He gave the green light to the activists. Then under his friend's daughter jacinda, the hey poo poo report was born. Now he says he wants things to calm down? Too late john.
In a country in which rights flow to individuals on the basis of citizenship, not to groups on the basis of increasingly tenuous partial ancestry, the term ‘race relations’ is an oxymoron.
Disagree with “Valid Point”. His/her proposal reminds me what teachers would do. I’d include Public Servants in that as well. It’s the Government’s job to plot the course. Ignore the loonies and those who throw tantrums to get their way (and another handout). My suggestion is to be bold and have a referendum. Not unlike what the Aussies did recently. Short and sharp and move on!
For a resident of Hawaii to come back here and our fuel on the bonfire he and Mr Finlayson set up? Perhaps he's back to re-purchase his Parnell estate in a crashing market? And to have coffee at the Rose garden cafe nearby?
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